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Phys.org / Japan space probe skims asteroid in test for planetary defense

A Japanese space probe performed a flyby of a near-Earth asteroid on Sunday in a test mission for technology that could help protect the planet from space rocks.

Jul 5, 2026
Phys.org / Rare 309-million-year-old fossils suggest early tetrapods developed without tadpole phase

Scientists have long posited that the earliest water animals to transition to land had amphibious tadpole features, going through a metamorphosis akin to that of today's frogs.

Jul 5, 2026
Tech Xplore / AI-powered social media can subtly manipulate opinion at scale

AI tools used to generate, edit or contextualize social media posts can introduce hidden biases that spread through online networks and shape public opinion, according to new research from the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) ...

Jul 5, 2026
Phys.org / Rats show empathy, according to model

A rat first frees a cagemate rat and then shares food with it. Is this animal just as empathetic as humans? In an American study from 2011, researchers observed that rats first freed their fellow rats from a cage and then ...

Jul 5, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers may have caught an early galaxy in the process of dying

Astronomers have spotted many "red and dead" galaxies in the early universe. These are massive systems that stopped forming stars surprisingly early in cosmic history. Now, they may have found evidence of one in the act of ...

Jul 4, 2026
Phys.org / A young gull's mottled brown plumage acts as a 'not a threat' signal to territorial adults

Birds are known for their distinctive plumage that helps them attract mates during the breeding season. For some birds, the path to adulthood is quite linear. One day they are chicks, and a few months later they are fully ...

Jul 4, 2026
Phys.org / Antarctic ozone loss drove unexpected Southern Ocean cooling, climate model shows

The Southern Ocean has long stood out as an oddity in the global climate system. While most of the planet's surface oceans have warmed in response to rising greenhouse gases, waters circling Antarctica showed an unexpected ...

Jul 3, 2026
Phys.org / European cities short on shade as heat waves hit, urban mapping reveals

More than four in five homes and workplaces across 25 European cities have less nearby tree canopy than what is needed for meaningful cooling, according to an open-data analysis by an urban greening expert.

Jul 5, 2026
Phys.org / Controlling magnetic chirality could help memory pack in more data

Magnetic storage devices, like a computer's hard disk drive, utilize magnets to represent binary data. However, as these devices are downsized, stray magnetic fields generated by individual magnetic components can interact ...

Jul 5, 2026
Phys.org / JWST discovers a new barred spiral galaxy

An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a new massive barred spiral galaxy. The newfound galaxy, designated M1149-BSG-z5, was identified using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The finding was detailed ...

Jul 3, 2026
Phys.org / Thousands flee new wave of European wildfires

Wildfires across southern Europe forced thousands of people to flee their homes and prompted authorities to ban spectators from Monday's Tour de France stage, which was threatened by one inferno.

Jul 6, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers recreate a lost Ming Dynasty goldworking technique to make replica royal jewelry

Chinese goldsmiths working during the Ming Dynasty were masters of their craft, capable of creating intricate and elaborate jewelry pieces. The evidence is there in the abundance of finds in royal and noble tombs across Hubei ...

Jul 3, 2026